I have dreaded this day for as long as I can remember. I have cried a million tears over leaving their house, every summer while growing up, thinking it would be the last time I would ever see him. I knew back in June, it would be the last. We had such a wonderful visit with Grandpa. He sat out on the back porch with me and split a butterfinger bar (even though I had just been crowned biggest loser, i gladly accepted). We watched the girls race around the back yard, and I was stressing that we were being too big of a pain to have around the house while dad and James worked on fixing some leaky faucets in the bathrooms. I tried listening to that little still small voice that was telling me, everything would be okay and that you better enjoy this last visit with your grandpa. He watched them dip their feet with me in the pool, and would occasionally splash us with the pool net. He seemed to love to watch them giggle. It was so great to see my grandpa and my daughters play together. I had spent so many magical days baking in the sun out on their back patio. So many wonderful games of fooze ball (sp?), marbles, going for swamps, GOLFING, fishing, four wheeling, bb guns, swimming in the pool was definitely my favorite. I loved the slide, the diving board, and especially making WAVES!!
I am so truly grateful for my sweet grandpa, who called me his "little darlin'". When he called me this, I said, "I ain't no darlin'". Those memories will stay with me always. I am even more grateful to know of the plan of happiness, and I know I will see him again! NO EMPTY SEATS! Right?! He has always been a wonderful example to me between knowing right from wrong, and I know he tried to teach us all to be our best! I hope I can always make him proud. I love you so much sweet Grandpa! We know you are in a better place now, having some wonderful reunions,with a wonderful daughter, a few wonderful grandsons, and lots of other loved ones, but we will all miss you!!!!
Stimpson Family Reunion 2007
Sunriver, Or
9 comments:
very sweet post, jana. thanks for that.
I'm so sorry for your loss sweet Jana, our thoughts and prayers are with you.
My first encounter with your Grandpa was right after Bri got off his mission. We went for a weekend and I won a little cash in the skittles game, learned to play poker using matchsticks as money, and got my first taste of the "shake." I was instantly in love with two of the sweetest grandparents I had ever met who made me feel as if I was already a part of their family, though we weren't even engaged yet. I will miss his big smiles and playful jabs and seeing him and your grandma sitting together in the cute little orange rocking loveseat :)
Oh Jana I'm sorry. It is never easy saying goodbye. We are thinking of you guys!
Good memories! Thanks for sharing. There seriously was nothing like those summer days at G&Gs, all the games and especially the pool. I miss him too.
You're so sweet, Jana. And you are TOO a little darlin'! (I can remember hearing you tell Grandpa that you weren't no little darlin' though. So cute.)
We've all known this day would come, haven't we? I remember as a little girl praying that my mom and dad would "live to be 90 or more years old." Seems silly now, but to think of life without them at that time was unthinkable to me. I think I said it every night, probably even after I went to college! It's good Grandpa didn't have to wait until age 90 to leave this life, though, given the ravages of alzheimer's.
I so don't envy you right now. But you sure did make me think about my grandparents who have all passed on. What a neat post you did and I will be thinking of you and your family during this hard time. Love you!
I loved your post! What a tribute to your sweet grandpa! Memories are wonderful! Thank you for sharing!
That was a sweet post. He sounds like an amazing grandpa. It's nice to have such good memories. Thinking of you!
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